Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

The hook of this book was great and pulled me in immediately: "if you're listening to this, I've been murdered" 

Unfortunately the rest of the book didn't work as well for me. It was supposed to be a book in a book format, but it didn't super make sense to have those inner book chapters in there when the MC never even read that book. 

They also broke up the action at the worst moment sometimes, which is not great in a thriller. I'm not sure I would have missed a single thing if I didn't read those chapters. 

We were also left with a lot of plot holes and unanswered questions at the end. 

The main character made some really stupid decisions even though she seemed generally smart which is always annoying. 

I did enjoy the overall story and the characters were well established. 

There was definitely a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. To me it felt a little silly and unearned, but I bet some people will enjoy it. Definitely not one of those twist where you look back and see all the signs pointing to it. 

Overall not a bad way to pass a day, but don't expect something extraordinary.

I've read several books by this author and loved them all, so I had high hopes for his newest release.

The cover of this book, a cassette tape, really drew me in. Cassette tapes have become a thing of the past, and I can't imagine what I'd do if I came across the box of tapes that Eve found in her father's garage. The storyline was definitely unique and grabbed my attention.

There were a couple of times when I thought I had it all figured out, only to find out that I was wrong. There were several questionable characters that led to me constantly second guessing my predictions, much like Eve did.

Of all of this author's books that I've read, this one is definitely my favorite! BRAVO!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

A super book from start to finish. Eve is packing up her recently deceased father’s home when she stumbles across a box of old tape recordings from her Mum. Eve’s mum, Angela, went missing 13yrs ago around the same time a notorious serial killer was on the hunt in her home town. As Eve listens to the tapes, her mum makes a shocking revelation. Can Eve solve the mystery of who The Earring Killer is? But Eve is struggling to be taken seriously given her own past. And could she be held responsible for the fallout of her enquiries? A grooming page turner. Highly recommend. Huge thanks to the publisher & author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I really empathized with Eve. She seemed utterly bewildered and adrift after hearing the tape her mother had stored in a box of tapes. The plot twists in this book were astonishing. True, Kerry Wilkinson's writing style is certainly something I love; I enjoy his books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

When i see the name Kerry Wilkinson as the author i know i am going to want to read it.
Well written and believable characters.
Eve is clearing out her Dad's place after his death and that's where the story begins.
Red herrings galore, i changed my mind so many times!
A heart racing thriller of a read.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Huge five stars from me.

Mark my words, The Tapes is going to take the world by storm!

Eve finds her mother Anges's tape left for her posthumously, after her father passes away. When she plays it, her mother claims she knows she's going to be murdered. Throughout other tapes we learn this is because Ange knows who The Earring Killer is.

The story then alternates between Eve's first POV chapters and extracts from the Earring Killer by Vivian Marjory, so a "book within a book" which is oh, so clever, because you know Eve and Vivian's storylines are going to merge eventually, but you don't know when this will happen or how. Will Eve will become another victim of The Earring Killer? will she be the person that solves the mystery? or... well, you will have to read this book to find out what happens to Eve!!

All in all, a wonderfully cinematic thriller!

Eve is clearing her late father's house when she finds a box of tapes, and a mystery.


I didn't read the blurb on the book, I knew immediately that I wanted to read it - Kerry Wilkinson!!
This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed every page of it.
The suspense! The emotion... I have a tape of my father's voice which is all of two minutes long. I feel close to him when I listen to it, and he has been gone a long long time. I can imagine how Eve felt, hearing her mother's voice, and hearing her mother profess her love for her daughter. Gave me chills to be honest.
Eve suspects everyone that she comes into contact with, but never - never ever did she suspect the serial killer to be who it actually was! I would never have predicted the ending.

Loved this book, and of course stayed up far too late to read it!

Another winner for Kerry Wilkinson.

5/5 stars from me.

This one was definitely a page turner. I was intrigued right from the start and my mind kept changing throughout the book as to who the killer really was. I really liked Eve, the main character and I felt that despite everything going on she remained a strong. There were a lot of side characters which can be a mess sometimes but this one was handled well and I felt the book easy to follow along with. This was an good mystery that had me guessing right until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed – and I need you to know that I love you.”

***
After Eve’s father dies, she takes on the task of clearing his house. Whilst doing so, she stumbles across a box of old cassette tapes and a player. Pressing play on the tape, Eve hears her mother's voice, predicting her own murder.

With the tapes in hand, Eve sets out on an investigation to discover what happened to her mother—and who is responsible.
***

The opening chapter of this book did an excellent job of sucking me in. I read this in one sitting! I really liked how the cassette tapes added a unique way to spark the investigation and subsequent plot.

Eve, the main character, had an in-depth backstory that added a layer of intrigue to her perspective. I thought her actions throughout the book were quite realistic and relatable. She is a strong character, and I like how assured she is in herself despite the obstacles she faces.

Throughout the book, I often thought I knew exactly what was going on and who was to blame. Every time I was wrong. I absolutely loved the twists and turns that had me second-guessing myself every chapter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

Review also published on TikTok: @readbyruby_

Cassettes… that’s really nostalgic for me.
I remember having some myself when I was younger, though they were filled with music—not creepy messages.

Of course, this raises all sorts of questions for Eve. Is it the truth or a lie? Because her mother didn’t always tell the truth. There’s only one way to find out, and so Eve decides to investigate—and that’s naturally, as it should be in a thriller, not without danger.

Just like Eve, you’re constantly being pulled back and forth between believing and doubting, and she’s desperately searching for people who can help her. And when she finally uncovers the killer’s name, she’s left speechless. Now she just needs solid evidence to expose them.

I thought using cassette tapes as a clue was a fun and original concept. Eve has been through a lot and that makes her an interesting character, and you really hope she finally gets the answers to the question that’s haunted her for years.

As a teenager, you don’t always appreciate your parents being overly sentimental toward you, but when they’re gone, and you find—or hear—a message like that years later, you realize what you’ve missed out on.
Maybe it’s an idea to hide a few little notes with kind words around the house for your children to find one day, to help them through tough times.

I thought it was a good book. I might have liked to get a bit more insight into the killer’s mind to understand their background better. Still, a solid 4 stars.

Thank you!

I loved it! The plot was a unique one and I loved how it was based around old school cassette tapes. The story flowed evenly throughout and it was a good read. There wasn’t any confusion in the storyline. As for the characters, I liked how each one one had a distinctive personality. Just the right pacing when talking about the authors writing style. Overall a good book with a good twist ending !

Review of ‘The Tapes’ by Kerry Wilkinson, due to be published on 11 August 2025 by Bookouture.

After the death of her father, Eve is clearing out his house when she stumbles across a box filled with dozens of cassette tapes, musings from her mother who disappeared 13 years ago. Whilst listening to them she comes across a chilling message from her mother, claiming that if she has gone missing, it’s because she’s been murdered, and she knows who a notorious serial killer is.

This sends Eve on a journey to discover what has actually happened to her mother, if she is alive or dead and who the potential killer could be. With lots of people who are prominent in her life all seeming to have had the opportunity and further developments casting doubt and complications, Eve desperately searches for the truth.

This book had me hooked from the very first page, really well written background, plenty of teasing about the identity of the unknown killer and well developed characters. It has everything you need for an intense thriller that leaves you reeling at the end. A recommended read.